Aggressive behavior of adolescents

Aggressive behavior of teenagers is increasing and becoming more and more evident every year. At the same time, it is the younger generation that suffers from it first and foremost.

The word aggression comes from the Latin “aggredi”, which literally means “to attack”, “attacks”. Unfortunately, the pace of modern life, all sorts of stressful situations lead to the fact that aggression is getting younger and embittered, irritated kindergarteners are already the norm rather than an exception to the rule.

Psychologists call aggressive destructive behavior that causes harm to other people, psychologically or morally.

But when aggressive behavior occurs without a reason, it may mean that a person suffers from a serious hormonal imbalance in the body, as well as Alzheimer's disease. Psychotherapists insist on a thorough examination and identification of the causes of aggressive behavior, especially if it occurs in adolescence.

Aggressive behavior of teenagers, if it is not caused by diseases or disorders in the body, can be a form of protest against restrictions at school, at home, as well as a desire to assert oneself among classmates through conflicts with teachers. In addition, the causes of aggression can also be socio-economic inequality, the influence of the media, films, bad company, conflicts in the family between parents and children. In any case, the situation should not be left to its own devices.

Aggressive behavior in children and adolescents should not frighten parents and teachers; its timely diagnosis and correction (treatment) gives very good prognosis.

Aggressive behavior is a deviation that must and can be fought. Modern psychology and psychiatry cope with aggressive behavior of children and adolescents quite successfully. It is important to correctly and promptly determine the cause that led to aggressive behavior and prescribe treatment. This can be either visits to a psychologist for preventive talks or medication.

If aggression was not eliminated in childhood, then it will be much more difficult to deal with it in adolescence.

The problem of aggressive behavior in teenagers

The problem of aggressive behavior among teenagers is more relevant today than ever before. Psychologists note that in recent years the level of aggression among teenagers has increased significantly, both in developing and developed, prosperous countries.

The root cause is an unfavorable atmosphere in the family, which imposes anti-norms of social behavior on the child.

The dominance of violence and cruelty in the media and cinema leads to the fact that aggressive behavior is perceived by teenagers as the norm. With the help of aggression, they try to establish themselves in the group, to achieve what they want.

The development of aggressiveness is influenced by many factors, both biological (heredity, disease) and psychological.

Aggressive behavior of teenagers - a diploma on this topic is chosen by an increasing number of graduates of higher educational institutions in the psychological field. Aggressive behavior of teenagers, their diagnostics and correction are now, as never before, relevant and in demand.

School psychologists note that aggression is common among both senior and junior schoolchildren. And in specialized medical institutions, neurologists do not have time to accept patients. But on the other hand, it should be noted that if earlier, 20-30 years ago, aggression was attributed only to improper upbringing, now it is recognized that aggressive behavior is a disease that needs to be treated.

Causes of Aggressive Behavior in Teens

Psychologists say that one of the main reasons for aggression in teenagers is the desire to attract attention. Aggression is a kind of cry for help. Aggression often hides weakness, fear, and lack of self-confidence.

Reasons for aggressive behavior in teenagers:

• age crisis
• unfavorable environment in the family, kindergarten, school
• inferiority complex
• heredity
• hormonal disorders
• diseases of the body
• abuse of alcohol, drugs, antidepressants

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Peculiarities of Aggressive Behavior in Adolescents

The features of aggressive behavior of teenagers largely depend on gender. If girls prefer to verbally express aggression, then young men prefer to use physical force.

Psychologists note the following types of aggressive behavior in teenagers: physical aggression, indirect aggression (gossip, stomping feet, slamming doors), verbal aggression (screaming, yelling, quarreling, threats, cursing), negativism, resentment, suspicion.

According to statistics, boys display aggression more often than girls. And their aggressive behavior is more difficult to correct.

Research shows that the main reason for aggression in adolescence is the lack of parental love and care. “Unloved” children, in whose families there is an atmosphere of mistrust, violence and insults, find it more difficult to adapt to educational institutions, since they bring such a communication pattern to society.

Aggressive behavior in adolescence is primarily caused by misunderstandings in the family. Then come age crises, the influence of the media and cinema, alcohol and drug use, problems with studies and peers, and hereditary diseases.

Boys are characterized by physical aggression, while girls are characterized by verbal aggression. A sharp difference in aggression by gender occurs at the age of 14-15.

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Psychological features of aggressive behavior of teenagers

During adolescence, sexual maturation and psychological maturation occur, the desire to conflict with the whole world, and especially with teachers and parents who limit life. This period is the most difficult and contradictory for any teenager. Psychological features of aggressive behavior of teenagers depend on their place in society, social level. There is a difference between aggression and aggressiveness. Aggressiveness is a character trait, and aggression is an emotional state that can be corrected with the right method.

The psychological characteristics of aggressive behavior in boys and girls differ both in characteristics and in time. After all, puberty in girls begins a year or two earlier.

Forms of aggressive behavior in adolescents

There are two types of aggressive behavior in teenagers: verbal and physical.

Girls most often resort to verbal form, this is verbal insults and humiliation. Verbal aggression can be indirect and direct.

Physical aggression is more typical for boys. Direct physical aggression is physical humiliation. Indirect physical aggression is causing moral damage. Symbolic physical aggression is intimidation and threats.

The real form of aggression is causing physical harm.

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Diagnosis of aggressive behavior in adolescents

Diagnostics of aggressive behavior of teenagers is carried out by specialists - psychologists, psychotherapists. For this purpose, a number of programs and tests have been developed that allow you to determine in a couple of minutes whether the aggressiveness of a given teenager should be corrected, or whether he is simply in a bad mood today.

Often teenagers refuse to admit the aggressiveness of their behavior, do not want to talk to psychologists, take tests. Convincing them of the need for diagnostics is the task of parents and psychologists.

The presentation of aggressive behavior in adolescents includes diagnostics of aggressiveness, the correct selection of methods for correcting aggressive behavior.

In adolescence, there is a denial of generally accepted morality for the first time, a desire to go against everyone and everything, to create one's own system of values. If you try to influence a teenager by force, most likely, it will lead to nothing. It is for this reason that the teenager + teacher conflict is the most difficult to correct, since teachers act according to the rules, not wanting to give in, trying to understand the aggressive teenager, the reason for his aggression.

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Correction of aggressive behavior in adolescents

Correction of aggressive behavior of teenagers is initially carried out by specialists - psychotherapists or psychologists, including school psychologists. After all, a school psychologist often knows better than parents what problems their child faces on a daily basis. There are a number of methods for this. First, it is necessary to conduct a thorough diagnosis, exclude hormonal and hereditary diseases.

Correction of aggressive behavior of teenagers is a joint work of parents, teachers and, of course, the "patient" himself. Among the recommendations, including for the prevention of aggressive behavior, an important place is occupied by the point of active and interesting leisure of the schoolchild. Sports sections have a very good effect on children of all ages.

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Methods of correction of aggressive behavior of teenagers

Methods of correction of aggressive behavior of teenagers depend on the cause of aggressive behavior. If it is psychological, then aggression will be corrected by means of psychological conversations, tests, programs, games (both group and individual).

The drug method of correcting aggressive behavior is used if the disease is caused by a biological factor, that is, heredity, drug abuse, alcohol, antidepressants. Aggressive behavior can also be caused by hormonal imbalance, infectious diseases.

Psychological correction of aggressive behavior of teenagers

Psychological correction of aggressive behavior of teenagers is carried out by school psychologists or employees of specialized medical institutions. Psychological correction includes both preventive talks and games (individual and group), painting, music, communication with nature, the animal world (often, communication with horses and dolphins transforms even the most aggressive children, on whom standard methods of treatment did not work).

Program for correction of aggressive behavior of teenagers

The program for correction of aggressive behavior of teenagers includes many points, the choice of which depends on the degree of aggressiveness of the teenager, as well as its causes. If these are biological factors, such as heredity, alcohol and drug abuse, antidepressants, hormonal disorders - then aggressive behavior is corrected with medication, often in inpatient treatment.

In other cases, psychological correction of aggressive behavior is used – conversations, trainings, games, drawings and music, communication with nature and animals.

Prevention of aggressive behavior in adolescents

A number of factors can influence a teenager’s aggressive behavior: a difficult family situation, lack of basic parenting standards, adolescence, social and behavioral factors.

Prevention of aggressive behavior in teenagers, oddly enough, should begin in childhood and is carried out by parents. At two or three years old, all children show aggression, but those whose behavior has not been corrected begin to believe that aggressive behavior helps to achieve what is desired.

Psychologists note that the prevention of aggressive behavior in adolescents follows the following pattern: identifying the factors that influenced the development of aggressiveness in the adolescent, developing measures (both psychological and medicinal) to reduce aggressiveness.

Program for the prevention of aggressive behavior in adolescents

The program for the prevention of aggressive behavior in adolescents must be approved at the level of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.

Timely prevention, diagnosis and treatment of aggression among teenagers will allow in the future to significantly reduce the level of crime in society. Moreover, psychologists and psychotherapists successfully cope with teenage aggression, but with timely diagnosis.